Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

30. To ask the Minister for Social Protection her targets for expenditure on social protection, as a proportion of gross domestic product; the latest figures for Irish expenditure on that matrix; the way it compares to the European Union average; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9124/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The 2015 Revised Estimates Volume provides for expenditure of €19.378 billion by the Department this year. This equates to 10% of projected GDP. The expenditure ceilings for future years will reflect some adjustments to take into account the estimated impacts of further improvements in labour market conditions on Live Register expenditure. Final determination of these ceilings will be made by Government in line with the fiscal rules under the Stability and Growth Pact.

Eurostat collates data on general government expenditure under the social protection function (as defined under EU law under the European system of accounts). This wider definition encompasses all general government expenditure on social protection, including expenditure on public sector pensions (but not private occupational pensions), and as such, is not comparable to the data presented above. However, it is the definitive source for EU social protection expenditure.

In 2012, which is the most recent data available, Ireland spent 16.4% of GDP on social protection as defined under EU law. This compared to an average of 19.9% in the EU-28.